AFP Health Reviews

It has always been the view of many thoughtful Americans that Obama Care and the politicians that wrote the voluminous and unreadable 2000+ page legislation got it all wrong. They assumed that the problem was escalating health care costs and then wrote legislation to treat this symptom, not the underlying root causes. High costs are an outcome because of other factors.

It is as if the political class is treating a cough but do not understand whether the cough is caused by allergies, the flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, cancer, strep throat, etc. Unless you know what the underlying disease is, if you treat only the symptom, in this case high and escalating health care costs, the chances of success are quite low.

If you look at the literature on the health state of most Americans, you find a consistent pattern:

– Americans smoke too much.

– Americans eat too much.

– Americans eat too much of the wrong kind of foods.

– Americans do not get enough exercise.

– Americans in general are getting older.

The first four items in this list are modifiable behaviors. They are the key to getting health care costs under control. Obama, Reid, Pelosi, et al never understood this. They raised taxes and implemented new taxes and fees, they created an untold number of new government agencies, they will criminalize millions of Americans for not bowing down to Obama Care and buying mandatory health insurance for themselves, etc. They treated the symptom of high health care costs as a tax, control, and bureaucracy problem, not a behavior and aging problem. Their chances of success are very small, assuming the legislation ever gets fully implemented and is not declared unconstitutional.

They also did not understand that forcing a human being to do something is never the best way to get something done. If you can make someone want to and like to do something from a behavior perspective, they are 1) more likely to do it, 2 ) do it with more conviction and 3) do it for a longer period of time. Forcing an American to do anything just gets their ire up and robs them of the freedom of choice, something a government should rarely, if ever, do in a democracy.

This is where some creativity and originality may have been a much better approach, in conjunction with modifying behavior relative to good health habits. We got none of this creative thinking from those in charge of Obama Care, it was the same old overbearing, freedom robbing, inefficient government control approach. Maybe they should have looked at a specific YouTube video for some of that refreshing new thinking. this video can be viewed by going to the YouTube website and searching for “odenplan, sweden, stairs, escalator, piano.”

This video covers an interesting experiment that was done in Odenplan, Sweden. The video opens with a shot of what looks like a subway area with abutting stairs and an “Up” escalator. In the first part of the video, the overwhelming percentage of travelers take the escalator to get up to street level, very few take the 20-30 stairs up. It is then that a bunch of engineers and others get involved. They transform the stairs into a simulated piano keyboard, with both black and white keys. When someone steps on the stairs, a piano note is generated so that by walking up the stairs it is as if you are playing the piano.

After the installation of the musical steps are completed, the majority of travelers opt now for the keyboard stairs and not the easier escalator. According to the video, the usage of the steps increased 66%. Using the steps is obviously a better health option but a healthier option that people chose of their own free will, not one forced on them.

If Obama, Reid, and Pelosi were in charge of the situation, they would have shut down the escalator, forced people to use the stairs, written a 2,000 page manual on the proper way to use steps and charged citizens a fee or tax to do so. The stairs would not make any sound since the government bureaucracy in charge of implementing the musical stairs would have been bogged down in red tape and never got around to the job.

Now, is it feasible to convert every set of steps in the country to musical steps? Obviously not. However, in a whimsical sort of way it would be cool to do so. Americans would gladly use the musical steps even though it was healthier for them, they would still be free to chose but by using some creativity, the right behavior would occur without new government regulations, without a loss of freedom, without coercion, and without new taxes.

This would have been such a refreshingly new approach: guide, not force, people to the right behavior to address and eliminate the underlying causes of high health care costs. If you reduce the demand for health care services because of musical steps or other innovative behavior modification, simple economics would drive down the costs, assuming the supply of medical services was constant.

That is why when you correctly view the issue of high health care costs as a behavior modification issue and not a government bureaucracy and tax issue you see that the solution should be executed from a public health viewpoint. How can you find a way to make good health behavior the right and freely chosen behavior to do? That would have been the creative, innovative, and liberty-wise right approach. It is not the type of behavior we can expect from our political class. We have not had our political class solve any issue from a creative, innovative, or freedom perspective for a very long time.

How might this positive public health approach be accomplished? On way would be to put together a panel of very smart Americans, sans politicians and lobbyists, in the mode of the successful Manhattan Project, the Apollo space program, the Military Base Closing Commission, and the Grace Commission on reducing government costs. Let the experts go about defining the true underlying causes to the problem and let the smart members of the panel come up with piano steps-like public health initiatives that modify behavior, address the underlying root causes, allow us to not lose our freedom of choice, not create mega-new bureaucracies, and not waste our tax dollars.

Now, as mentioned above, even if you modify all of the bad American eating and exercising habits, you are still left with the simple fact that Americans are getting older and in all likelihood will need more health care. We need to funnel resources into solving some of the biggest cancer killers of our time and vigorously attack the problem of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. These are the health care cost causers that will cripple the nation’s financial viability unless we can find a way to solve these health issues.

Over time, better eating and exercise habits might mitigate the cancer and Alzheimer’s impact but that would happen down the road. With thousands of Baby Boomers turning 65 every day, we must find a way to attack and conquer these diseases to mitigate the impact on health care costs. Obama Care does not make this approach a priority, which is a shame because if you do not solve these aging disease factors, it does not matter what you do from a taxation, government control, and bureaucracy perspective. The sheer number of Baby Boomers will overwhelm the system from a cancer and dementia perspective.

Thus, as you go through your day, think about using the stairs once in a while and imagine a piano playing every time you take a step. It will invigorate your body with the healthy stair option and maybe invigorate your mind, possibly staving off dementia, if you can imagine the piano steps playing a song as you go up. This will certainly make a bigger contribution to a healthy America than anything in the Obama Care legislation.

As the video says, “Fun can obviously change behavior for the better.”

Health
is wealth says a popular proverb, and we are realizing its importance
in the current scenario very well. Ill health is no more age specific.
Even small kids are prone to various health issues and the increase in
various health diseases and health supplements, leading healthy living
has become very important. Though we follow healthy living,
because we like in an environment, the body is prone to some or the
other impurities or diseases. Thus, healthy living is not just having
good health but also making our body resistant to diseases. Thus,
healthy living is two sided knife which from one side is being healthy
and from side being to resistant to the diseases and impurities around.
Healthy Living is not a rocket science but a simple common sense if
followed strictly give us long healthy living.

Thus healthy living being very popular here are some common tips that will take you the healthy way:

With
all countries facing various health issues, the medicine industry has
come up with various health supplements. Health supplements are nothing
but various proteins, vitamin, iron or other health related things that
cannot be obtained through the regular food products and are supplied
through tablets or tonics that fill this deficiency.

When it
comes to healthy supplements, there are various options. Let’s have a
look at the supplementsAustralia.Australiawith its immense knowledge in
medicine and research ha various healthy and dietary supplements. Be it
body building supplements, hair gain supplements, vitamin supplementary
for all age groups, vitamin supplements and many more Australia has
almost all of them.

One such very popular healthy supplements is Discount Vitamins.
Vitamin deficiency is one of the most commonly found deficiencies among
people. With various companies introducing various vitamin supplements
have come with many attractive offers and packages that cater not just 1
Vitamin deficiency bit many. This packaging is popularly called as
Discount Vitamins. Like various offers on clothes and electronic items,
Discount vitamins gives has various offers and shipping discounts for
the buyers.

This document is about healthy living and the various health supplementsAustraliaand discount Vitamins

Due to the nature of the possible hazardous types of threat that you as Close Protection Operative and a client can face, it is imperative that you attain and maintain a high level of physical fitness.

If you are unable to cover ground and remove a client to safety when a situation presents itself then you are no use to man or beast and I will go as far as to say that you are not only a danger to yourself but your team and most importantly your client.

It does not have to be a confrontation that you are faced with to be required to produce a large physical effort.

There is always the possibility that your client is a health and fitness fanatic and likes to go a 10 mile run every day, I am afraid that the police will take a very dim view of you when they catch you driving the follow vehicle through a protected park or across the countryside.

Thankfully the vast majority of the Close Protection workforce share a professional attitude and have the motivation and discipline necessary for the job in hand.

What can you do if you are one of those who no matter how hard you try or how much you berate yourself, just cannot keep a training regime going?

Well, help is at hand because with a little imagination you can develop your fitness level and do so, on a consistent basis.

A couple of straight forward common sense practices can help give you an attitude adjustment.

The first is to get involved in a group activity with a local club, such as running, cycling, badminton, tennis, hill walking, swimming, etc.

With a group of like minded others offering you support and giving you friendly ribbing when they feel your efforts are dropping off, is key to keeping you motivated and interested.

And if you take hill walking as an example, you will be so caught up in the sights and sounds of what is going around you that you will not even realise that you are exercising.

Another excellent technique is to kill two birds with one stone and choose your activity around enhancing your resume.

Activities such as rock climbing, snowboarding, skiing and mixed martial arts are absolutely perfect for this.

As far as I am concerned there is no finer work out than that of a quality Mixed Martial Arts session, the effort required is both aerobic and anaerobic and if I shall state the obvious, enhances your fighting skills.

I have deliberately omitted high impact types sports like American football and rugby.

And the reason for this is that I believe these open you up to unnecessary physical damage for no reward.

You may argue that Mixed Martial Arts is listed but at least with the likes of MMA there is an acceptable risk because you are developing one other necessary Close Protection skill.

If you still find yourself unconvinced and unmotivated after trying out these ideas then your decision to be involved in the world of Close Protection should be brought into doubt and maybe you should look at another line of work, after all you owe it to yourself, your team and most importantly your client.

Are you planning to build your home gym with quality equipment
or running a commercial health club or an entrepreneurial fitness coach
looking to start your own personal training studio? If you are any one
of them, it has become quite easy to get fitness equipment Australia
at a reasonable price and that too similar to a commercial grade
exercise machine. If you are in the market for it, you will be surprised
by the variety of choices available.

The important thing to consider while choosing fitness equipment for
your home or gym is that you should find it enjoyable, convenient, and
easy to use. Moreover, you must be having the required space for the
machine. As it is considered an investment of worth, take time consider
the type of equipment you need to stay in health and fitness.

When
it comes to health and fitness, to achieve the goals that we have for
ourselves often need equipment that can help in pushing the effort more.
Along with exercising with the machine, you require a commitment to a
regimented eating and exercise program that will result in the shedding
of fat and building of muscle. But in order to reach your goal or when
you are going to start with weight loss program, first identify the type
of exercise that is likely to mean success for our particular body –
and the type of fitness machine that will help you do it.

Choose the exercises that you plan to do. Once you have done this, consider following points before you buy fitness equipment Australia:

Construction material-
Ensure that the equipment is created out from high quality steel. You
should avoid plastic materials as they break apart easily.

Buy from a Reputable manufacturer- Ensure that the maker
has been in the market for several years. You can know about the
reputation from customer testimonials. These are easily available online
and might be positive or negative.

Warranty period-When the period is long, this is an indication that the manufacturer trusts in the quality of its exercise equipment.

Movement of the machine– Choose the one with triangular oscillation. You will get the benefit of gravity and acceleration both.

Performance– Avoid buying machines that make noise. Make sure that the it is equipped with straps to support upper body.

Get yourself a great deal and a promising future that speaks of healthy living.

Health insurance is increasingly becoming popular nowadays. Good health care can sometimes be a life saver as there are times when one is hit by poor health. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a private insurance plan carefully. You need to ascertain the different benefits that are covered in your health insurance plan. Ideally a plan should cover full private consultation, diagnostic tests, private room in a hospital, specialist fees, etc. Such a plan should be comprehensive and at the same time affordable. This is the reason that you need to compare the plans of different insurance companies before you buy health insurance.

Nowadays, most major insurance companies provide tailor made health plans to suit your specific requirements. For example, one provider look at the lifestyle that you lead and if you lead a healthy life with regular exercising and are a non-smoker this company will give you good discounts. Apart from the health insurance plans and the things they cover, you should also compare the terms and conditions of the various insurance companies. Also, in case you need to put in a claim, what is the speed with which your claim is authorized?

You should ensure that you opt for an insurance company that is customer centric and treats you fairly. Basically the way health cover works is that providers enable you to get prompt private treatment in good clean hospitals, and all you have to do is get authorization from your insurance provider before you seek treatment and the rest is taken care of between the private hospital and the insurance provider company. This will ensure that you do not have to face unnecessary hassle on top of dealing with your ailment.

Most of these details can be found from the websites of the insurance companies. Apart from this you can also contact specialist health insurance advisors broker agents and discuss the various policies with them. These advisors will provide you with impartial advice and compare different companies and prices based on your specific requirements.

Discover What You Can Do To Relieve Dysautonomia
Dysautonomia can cause many symptoms and they vary from person to person. A common connection is the second brain. This is the nervous system of the digestive system and the internal organs.
Many people have developed a life style that abuses the second brain. In fact many are masters at creating deadly insults to the second brain. This can be a major factor in dysautonomia and aggravation to familial dysautonomia
The second brain can be tolerant of many bad habits when we are young and we pay the price as we age. Allergies, heart rhythm problems, joint pains, headaches, immune weaknesses and various digestive problems are often the result of the cumulative abuse we force on the second brain.
Our eating patterns, the toxins we eat breath and create internally, the foods we choose and exercise habits can create a disharmony with the function of our internal systems. The breakdown in normal function leads to the development of numerous problems.
Some people may only be aware of one or two problems and others may experience several problems simultaneously. Correcting underlying problems can result in significant changes in the quality of life.
Two critical habits we need to observe are:
1. The body likes repetition and schedules.
2. The brain likes variety.
If we have a good routine for eating and choose quality foods to meet our nutritional needs we will function much better. Too often we have irregular eating patterns, choose the wrong foods and eat under stress. Sooner or later this will lead to serious problems.
In my many years of practice I was fortunate to learn the secrets of the ancient masters from several mentors. Supporting and nurturing normal function of the second brain has given many people relief of conditions related to this autonomic dysfunction or what today is called dysautonomia.
You need to know what normal function is and lead a life style that supports this. If you do not know the rules of the game you will likely not do well. We have become the most overfed, undernourished and over stressed population in the history of the world.
Eat at regular times, eat appropriate amounts, eat nourishing foods and eat in a relaxed mental state. This will allow you to put less stress on the second brain and support the normal balance of function of the internal organs.
Also you must reduce you toxic burden. This is a topic for another article.
The second brain is not everything yet everything depends on the second brain.
I have put my knowledge on balancing and boosting the energy of the second brain into a Second Brain Energy Formula. You can learn more about this at the links below.

Every product of service has its advantages and disadvantages. This even applies to the Magic Flight Launch Box vaporizer In this case it’s a fact that I love this apparatus, so it will be hard for me to give you a completely objective review. This is my report based on my personal feelings in regards to the Magic Flight Launch box. This is my review on the MFLB.. What I like and don’t like about the MFLB.

The size is th? amazing part of this vaporizer.. When looking at it, it appears to be a matchbox; size-wise and from the looks from it. This vaporizer can always be brought along as this even fits into a tight fitting jeans..

The second point in favor would be its simplicity and effectiveness. Why? Because you only see an ordinary AA rechargable battery and you read that this vaporizer is ready in literally 5 seconds after plugging in the battery. I tried and it worked. But what really hit me, was the overwhelming taste of the herb I used. Just imagine how herbs can smell, butnow you will have this flavor in your mouth. Wow, I instantly realized the importance of using quality herbs as this will pass through this device and you will taste the difference. I still cannot believe my first reaction; I was stunned that this was possible with this little device. I guess you also start to realize that once you start vaping with this device, you should stay away from cheap or bad herbs as you will taste it. That’s a promise!. You should only use quality herbs with this vaporizer, otherwise you will regret it. That’s for sure. Another surprise occured when exhaling. No smoke came out of my mouth, which made me wonder whether or not it still was effective. Well, a few moments later, I knew that I shouldn’t doubt this!.

When handling this device you also realize that this vaporizer is not fragile. Every part of this vaporizer is build to last. While standing on concrete I simply had to test my assumption. I had to drop it a couple of times. And like expected, no problem at all. I was vaping within 5 seconds again. To me this is very important when considering a portable vaporizer as the possibillity of falling on the floor is way bigger than an electric non-portable vaporizer.

The fourth pro is going to be its price. It only costs about ?84. If you ask me, this is a price that seems to be very fair.

And last (but not necessarily least) we’ve got the 5th point in support the overall feeling you get when having one. 1. It gives me the feeling that my habit is way better for my health than smoking it with tobacco. Vaporizing implies that there is no burning. This means no toxic fumes, which results in no harming to your body. 2. I get the feeling of freedom with it. You can stash it in every little bag as it is so damn small. In no way I am disturbed by the volume of this device. I almost forget I have it on me. 3. This device really gets me high. You will only experience a very nice high, without the usual down feeling when smoking a jointfor example. No negatives to report here. It just feels good.

What about the negatives of this device?:

Its cheap, but is it worth that price?. Does this simple, yet effective device justify the price?. Basically this device consists out of some wood, a few metal elements, two rechargable AA batteries and a tube. That’s it. Well, I cannot blame you for getting a cheap feeling, as I did as well. Simplicity also means handy. And this justifies the price if you ask me. I find this device a real invention. And to me, that makes up the whole negative feeling about the price. Hey, I want a simple, yet effective device. Nothing more, nothing less. And that’s exactly what you get with the MFLB.. But it looks so simple and therefore it also gives the feeling of cheap. So, to me this isn’t really a negative feeling.

The glass tube is a real issue to me. This glass pipe will definately break if dropped on the concrete floor. Its only a matter of time that this will occur. I cannot forgetabout this part of the device. Every time I use it, I am scared that I accidently drop it. I wouldn’t have used glass in this case. I do understand that a straw like pipe will influence the flavor. Glass is probably the easiest to clean as well. In a matter of seconds this pipe is cleaned. I can imagine that glass is the only really good material for this device. Whatever the reason, I still don’t like to think about the moment I’ll drop it on the floor. But one thing is for sure, the device itself will withstand the pounding. That gives me a good feeling. It is very strong.

The third point in contra is going to be the cheap looks and feel. Its wooden casing makes it look like you made it yourself. At the same time, the moment you have this device in your hands, lots of people tend to get very curious. People agree about the looks, but are really surprised about the size and its effectiveness.

Well, the fourth disadvantage could be the batteries. They heat up the device. You need one battery for that. While using the vaporizer, you will notice that the temperature of the battery is rising. You get 2 batteries and they should give you enough battery juice for a whole night. Which means, no problem, really. With 2 batteries you should have enough power to supply yourself and a friend a whole night long. The final drawback: It is so damn easy and handy that you need to start watching you newly developed habit. This means that you need to watch your habit. The high feeling is so smooth that you really enjoy smoking it. Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you about this

What is the verdict gonna be? Good or bad? The reply is apparently “Yes” to both questions! The magic flight launch box (mflb) vaporizer appears to be both good AND bad!
MFLB vaporizer

ARE YOU GETTING OLDER OR BETTER?

Have you had that birthday
yet which made you suddenly realize that you really are getting older? I
don’t mean older in a decrepit, breaking down way. I mean older in a
wiser, stronger, and more mature way.

I discovered that I had
reached that phase during my recent 6oth birthday “initiation by storm.”
I was unexpectedly caught in a Class 3 hurricane, followed by a
week-long power outage in our home in the Bahamas. As a result of a
life-long practice of maintaining a healthy mind and body balance, I was
able to remain calm, peaceful, and resourceful throughout this entirely
new experience.

What it takes to be balanced:

Be Present –
learn and practice living in the here and now, don’t worry about the
past or future. No matter what life is offering, take time to do a
morning quieting practice. Good options are yoga, Tai Chi, meditation,
or anything that includes a level of mindfulness.

Be Healthy –
have regular medial check-ups, and use a preventative approach to
health. A good place to start is by eliminating the four poisons from
your diet: hydrogenated fats, high fructose corn syrup, processed foods,
and sugar. Develop and maintain a routine of ample rest, and follow a
Mediterranean diet (high in fruits and vegetables, whole grains and
cereals, nuts and seeds, oily fish, and olive or avocado oil, keeping
red meat and diary to a minimum.) Try some new grains like farro and
quinoa. Make sure to drink plenty of water, and, of course enjoy a daily
treat of dark chocolate.

Simplify – let go of what you don’t
need. Clear that which creates clutter and/or complicates your life.
This includes identifying and spending less time with ‘maintenance
friends’ who rely upon you, but don’t offer reciprocity in your
friendship. Decrease or eliminate activities that drain your energy, as
opposed to replenishing your reserves. Remember balance.

Get
Moving – of course there’s the physical benefits of exercise (increased
bone density, muscular strength, endurance, energy, and better posture),
but exercise also provides stress relief and improves mood. I have
learned as I age -if I want to move, I’ve got to keep moving! It’s fun
to mix up your routine and keep learning. Try Zumba, Nia, Barre, go to a
dance class, or water aerobics. Keep exercise fun and playful, and do
it every day.

Have a Massage - many enjoy getting one. But you don't
need to pay someone to enable your body to relax, detox and stimulate
the lymphatic system. You can do reflexology for yourself on your hands
or feet (it's as good as a whole body massage.) Or try "dry brushing"
before your shower, which natural detoxifies and is very stimulating.

Embrace
Change - and recognize that change is good. It keeps your mind active,
challenges flexibility, and opens up new ways of being in the world.
Remember to soften into life, rather than contract in fear whenever
you're not familiar with a situation or are uncomfortable in life. Let
go of the need to be right, to be heard, or be acknowledged. As you
mature, you can learn to be comfortable with who you are without the
need for outside validation.

Fill Your Soul and Spirit - learn to
have fun. Think about what fills your reserves, what feels cohesive to
your sense of self. For me, it is being with my grandchildren, or doing
anything in nature. For you, it may be travel, volunteering service
work, or just being home with a good book. You will be able to tell
you're being true to yourself because you will feel happy, rejuvenated
and renewed.

If you want to continue to improve and grow as part
of your aging process, it is necessary to continue working on balance
and integration as part of your daily healthy lifestyle practice. Then,
no matter what life challenges you face - you'll be ready for them.

For more information and techniques on healthy living, refer to my book Healthy Lifestyle Path of Wellness: http://www.pamelaholtzman.com/pamelas-book/

Many people incorrectly assume they get adequate nutrients from the food they eat. Unfortunately, in todays world it is virtually impossible to get the necessary nutrients to sustain a healthy body and mind by just eating modern foods and drinking liquids.
This means that everyone must look at choosing the right food they eat, organic if possible, and supplementing their diets with multivitamins and minerals to assist in the journey to optimum nutrition.

In an ideal world this would be adequate, but very few people realize that modern lifestyles and current eating habits introduce anti-nutrients into our bodies that deplete nutrition. Modern food is devitalized by man made chemicals, pesticides, contaminants and food processing. These nutrient busters prevent nutrients from being absorbed or used by the body and in some cases promote their excretion. Many modern day diseases and deaths are not only caused by a deficiency of nutrients but also because of an excess of nutrient busters.

Most cancers, for example, are associated with an excess of anti-nutrients, like chemicals and free radicals resulting from smoking.

Unfortunately our lifestyles dictate the extent to which we are exposed to these nutrient busters. It is essential for us to reduce the exposure to anti-nutrients by assessing our lifestyles and the environment we live in, so we can fully understand how to manage this gigantic onslaught of nutrient busters and change our lifestyles accordingly.

How big is the problem ?
There are more than 3,000 man made food chemicals and over 20,000 pesticides registered in the US. American agriculture is reported as using 2.2 billion pounds of pesticides annually, that are used on more than 900,000 farms. The UK is reported as using 250,000 tons of food chemicals a year and 400 million litres of pesticides and herbicides sprayed on to food crops, pastures and surrounding areas. In addition billions of cigarettes and alcoholic drinks are consumed in the UK, not to mention the millions of antibiotics, pharmaceutical drugs, recreational and street drugs taken, and the industrial pollution of more than 50,000 chemicals pumped into the air every day.

Its no wonder we have health problems.

In his article The Amazing Human Being, Richard Penfounde starts by saying,

Human beings are the only creatures on earth that:

smoke tobacco
consume processed foods
drink coffee and tea copiously
eat fried foods continuously
drink cow’s milk throughout our lives
add sugar to our foods and liquids
add salt to our foods and liquids
continue to eat when we are not feeling well
consume social and medicinal drugs

We are the results of the products that we put in our mouths and often those that we do not put in our mouths. Our bodies are eventually shaped and our skin conditioned by these processes over a period of time. Every disease takes time to develop, often 20 or more years. Disease in our body varies from mild to moderate to serious and the progression is often so slow that it is not recognised at the time that it is happening.

The major Lifestyle nutrient busters

As optimum nutrition is the key to a healthy body and mind, we must be aware of how each of our lifestyles expose us to anti-nutrients and subsequent diseases and death.
The main problem is that these nutrient busters build up in the body, slowly over time eventually resulting in one or other serious disease. So before its too late, we must prevent this from happening by having regular check ups and appropriate tests. Richard recommends that it is very important to start a regimented optimum nutrition programme as soon as possible to start combating the nutrition busters onslaught.
You may also, depending on your specific circumstances, look at other appropriate tests like the hair-mineral analysis, food-tolerance tests, vitamin blood tests, the functional homocysteine test and a cholesterol test to establish your risk and to see if you have any specific disease symptom or nutrient deficiency.

For each of us to do a proper analysis of our lifestyles, we must however understand what these nutrient busters are, and make the necessary lifestyle changes to minimize or eliminate them.

Nutrient deficiency and depletion
There are many different nutrient busters that have negative affects on our bodies which can contribute to disease and death. Each contribute in a different way to the depletion of the nutrients we require to achieve and maintain optimum health.

Together with these anti-nutrient activities we must also understand that even refined foods that do not have man-made chemical additives or anti-nutrients, often contribute to nutrient deficiency as they do not have sufficient quantities of nutrients to sustain the body and mind. It is estimated that half of most peoples diets consist of these refined foods which means that the other half of their diets have to make up the full nutrient requirement. This isnt always possible or the case, for most people.

The result of all of this is that it is essential to be aware of these conditions and to eat according to our individual nutrient requirements, but more importantly to change our lifestyles to avoid nutrient busters where possible, and then to supplement the nutrients through our diets and an appropriate optimum nutrition supplement programme containing multivitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, essential fats, phytochemicals and amino acids.

This is the only way to achieve optimum health.

So lets look at the major nutrient busters.
Lifestyle, taking into account the effect of the following:
o Living in a city or near an industrial area
o Eating fast foods regularly
o Smoking cigarettes
o Drinking alcohol
o Taking recreational or street drugs
o Taking birth control pills
o Taking antibiotics regularly
o Limited or no regular exercise
o Limited sleep
o Highly stressful lifestyle
The environment we live in, taking into account the effect of the following:
o Traffic pollution, time spent in heavy traffic
o Industrial air and water pollution
o Drinking water contamination
o Pesticide and herbicide utilization and distribution
o Living or working in a smoking environment
The food we eat, taking into account the effect of the following:
o Man made food chemicals, additives, preservatives and food colouring agents
o Genetically modified foods
o Consumption of fast foods, fried foods and fatty foods
o Food processing using heat
o Food browned or burnt using heat
o Fruit and vegetables contaminated by pesticides and herbicides
o Foods wrapped in PVC plastic film
o The consumption of tea, coffee, sugar, salt and alcohol
o Household drinking water from taps
The drugs we take taking into account the effect of the following:
o Pharmaceutical drugs and antibiotics
o Recreational and street drugs
o Birth control pills
The exposure to nutrient busters depends on your specific lifestyle and therefore defines the activities you need to take to minimize or eliminate the exposure, to assist in achieving optimum nutrition.

Richard Penfounde

Natural Health Advisor

www.naturallyhealthylifestyles.com

The very nature of a woman is strength and compassion and the essence of her being is to nurture. A woman takes a long journey in her entire life fulfilling myriad roles in the society. Little does she realize that the vision she holds so dear can only be brought to reality if she has nurtured her own body well with good thoughts, lifestyle and above all, good nutrition.

After a galloping phase of infancy and early childhood, where the nutrition is completely taken care of by the elders around the child, comes the most crucial phase in life. This is the phase of adolescence (which is Latin means to grow up), which is the period between the onset of puberty and full maturity (i.e. 10 to 21 years).This is the time when child begins to see himself / herself as an individual and exercise his/ her choice for everything. The influences experienced by an adolescent often make a template for shaping the life of an adult. While trying to keep pace with the rapid physical changes and peer pressure, intense concern with appearance and weight and an active lifestyle, the adolescents often neglect the importance of nutrition. This is more observed in girls as they focus on their appearance more than what could make them a healthy individual. The biological, social, psychological and cognitive changes that occur during adolescence can significantly affect nutritional health.

Nutrition for adolescent girl:

The biological process of puberty is characterized with rapid growth in height and weight, changes in body composition and tissues and acquisition of primary and secondary sex characters. The average duration of puberty in girls is 4 years, with a range of 1.5 to 8 years. Nutrition needs parallel the rate of growth with the maximum nutrition demands occurring during the peak velocity of the growth. Sex hormones estrogen and progesterone contribute to changes in body composition which cause fat deposits. Research has shown that pubertal girls experience 44% increase in lean body mass and 120% increase in body fat.

The changes in the body composition have important implication for nutritional needs especially with respect to energy, iron and protein.

Importance of Breakfast

Eating a good breakfast increases thinking power and helps maintain a healthy body weight. Eating at breakfast time helps to stop snacking on high calorie bars and confectionery at break time and so can help keep the total calorie intake also low. Having a fortified cereal for breakfast helps to meet the adolescent calcium and iron needs.

What should an adolescent girl eat more?

This is the age when the body demands more of calcium and iron. Lack of calcium intake can have a detrimental affect on bone growth as this is the age when the gain in bone density is maximum (up to 90%). Milk, cheese and yogurt are the best sources of calcium. Teenagers also need equivalent of a pint-and-a-half of ordinary milk or a pint of fortified milk each day. This can be made up of milk on breakfast cereal, milk in tea, coffee, milkshakes or smoothies.

Iron is another nutrient which is to be taken regularly. Iron is found in plant foods which need to be combined with vitamin C rich foods, for example a glass of orange juice (vitamin C) with beans (iron) on toast. Other vitamin C rich foods are citrus fruits (orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit), kiwi, nectarines, mango, blackcurrants and drinks based on these fruits. Potatoes are also a good source of vitamin C. Alternative good sources of iron are eggs, fortified breakfast cereal, whole meal bread, broccoli, spinach, prunes and apricots.

Adolescent girls should also eat diet high in protein in order for proper muscle growth. Some of the good sources of protein are cheese, yogurt, milk, eggs, beans (all types such as kidney beans, butter beans, beans in tomato sauce), peas, chick peas, lentils and peanuts. Vegetables are rich source of vitamins, including vitamin A and C, and folate, minerals, such as iron and magnesium, and fiber. Besides, they are low in fat. One should have 2 to 4 servings of vegetables each day.

In summary, the best nutrition advice to keep your adolescent healthy includes encouraging her to:

* Eat a variety of foods
* Balance the food you eat with physical activity
* Eat plenty of grain products, vegetables and fruits
* Choose a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol
* Eat a diet that is moderate in sugars and salt
* Choose a diet that provides enough calcium and iron to meet the growing bodys requirements.

Nutrition for the Young Woman:

diet-for-young-womanYoung women undergo dramatic changes while moving from adolescence into their early twenties. These include physical, social, cognitive, and emotional development. At a time when nutrient requirements peak, the lifestyles of young women may compromise their food intake placing them at risk for many nutritional imbalances.

Most attention directed to this age group tends to be on issues of weight including obesity, dysfunctional eating, and eating disorders. Although these are important, this emphasis completely ignores the nutritional health concerns that face young women. Dietary deficiencies most notably iron, calcium, and folate are commonly related to inadequate energy intakes or the omission of whole food groups Lifestyle trends can also influence young womens diets. Lack of discipline in eating and the shift in food consumption from meals to snacks becomes the order of the day. Scientific reports mention that as the number of eating episodes increase so does the mean intake of energy, total carbohydrates, and sugars.

Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency among older adolescent girls and young women due to iron losses during menses and poor dietary intakes. The consequences of iron deficiency are subtle but serious, including decreased work performance, impaired body temperature regulation, and altered intellectual performance. Young women should also eat foods rich in iron as mentioned for the adolescent girls.

There is also a concern about calcium intake of young women because of its association with bone health in later years. Maximizing peak bone mass during the first two to three decades of life can prevent osteoporosis. Dietary calcium improves bone accretion, but 60% of females aged 13-17 years are reported to consume less than the recommended intake of milk and milk products, the best source of calcium. Vitamin D is needed along with calcium to build strong bones while excess sodium, protein, caffeine, and phosphorus may compromise bone health.

Another critical nutrition concern, relates to the inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables. These food groups are sources of key vitamins, such as folate, which is linked to the prevention of neuro-tube defects in offspring, and heart disease and cancer in later life. The antioxidant and photochemical content of fruits and vegetables also have a role in preventing heart disease and cancer. Consuming fruits and vegetables daily with particular attention to adequate folate intake should be a nutritional priority for young women.

Nutrition for the Pregnant and Lactating woman:

diet-for-pregnant-women1When a young woman is getting ready for bearing a child and nurturing it, she needs to prepare her body well in order to provide adequate support to another being growing within her. In this phase of her life she needs to pay attentions to;

* Maintain a healthy weight.
* Engage in physical activity regularly.
* Gradually lose body weight
* Women who are trying to become pregnant and ordinarily drink alcoholic beverages, should stop drinking or cut back on the amount drink.
* Quit or cut back on smoking to improve health.
* To minimize the risk of having an infant with a neural tube defect, eat a highly fortified breakfast cereal. Choose foods that provide 100 percent of the Daily Value (DV) for folate.
* It is advised to include in daily eating pattern:

o At least 3 servings of low fat milk and milk products as a source of calcium – a must for bone health.
o At least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
o Two to three servings of meat or alternates a day.
o Five or more servings of grain products depending on energy requirements.

* Pregnant women should try to eat a well-balanced diet including foods naturally rich in folate, such as orange juice, strawberries, cantaloupe, dark green leafy vegetables, asparagus, broccoli, and cooked dried peas and beans. Pregnant women are also likely to need greater amounts of foods fortified with folic acid, such as breakfast cereals or enriched bread, rice, or pasta, or they should take a vitamin supplement.

Nutrition for the Elderly Women:

The aging process is associated with many changes in hormonal and physiological function, some of which are gender related. In women, one of the most dramatic hormonal changes is the striking reduction in estrogen production that accompanies menopause. This period of life and the later, has special nutrient requirements.

Nutritional status has an enormous effect on health throughout life and has no less impact in the elderly. With increasing age, body requires less energy because of a decline in physical activity, a loss of lean body mass and a fall in the metabolic rate. Raising the activity level will increase the need for energy and help avoid gaining weight. Weight gain often occurs in menopausal women, possibly due to declining estrogen.

The food guide for older women, includes information about:

* Whole, enriched and fortified grains and cereals such as brown rice and 100 percent whole wheat bread.
* Bright-colored vegetables such as carrots and broccoli.
* Deep-colored fruit such as berries and melon.
* Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grain cereal products, especially those high in vitamin C and carotene. These include oranges, grapefruit, carrots, winter squash, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and green leafy vegetables. These foods are good sources of vitamins and minerals and the major sources of dietary fiber. Fiber helps maintain bowel mobility
* Low- and non-fat dairy products such as yogurt and low-lactose milk.
* Dry beans and nuts, fish, poultry, lean meat and eggs.
* Liquid vegetable oils and soft spreads low in saturated and trans fat.
* Fluid intake.
* Physical activity such as walking, housework and yard work.

Although researchers have been addressing the special nutrition needs of menopausal and older women, it is generally agreed that a diet rich in vegetables, grains, fruits, and calcium and lower in fat, alcohol, calories, and caffeine is a wise choice for these group of people.

Although, nutrition is an important component of human development at every stage of life, its focus changes with age. This is more relevant for women for they undergo many physical, biological and psychological changes as they age.